Fox and Bush, pictured in 2006, appeared to enjoy a warm relationship.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – The two leaders shared a border for six years, but former Mexico President Vicente Fox gives a tough assessment on President Bush in a new book out next month, according to U.S. News and World Report.
In "Revolution of Hope," set to hit book stores October 4, Fox calls Bush "the cockiest guy I have ever met in my life," and is sharply critical of the president's Iraq policy and his immigration stance, according to the magazine.
Though he describes warm relations with Bush, Fox in the book also calls the president's Spanish skills "grade-school" level and says, "I can't honestly say that I had ever seen George W. Bush getting to the White House."
In addition to Bush, Fox also sounds off on his "close but rocky relationships" with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuela President Hugo Chávez, according to the books Publisher, Penguin.
Fox served as Mexico's president from 2000-2006.
The autobiography is co-written by Robert Allyn, a Texas-based political consultant who has advised both Fox and Bush.
– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
From CNN Politics
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The cocky part about Bush I can buy very easily. Just listen to any public speech Bush has ever given. He comes across as all knowing despite evidence to the contrary.
As far as Bush not being able to speak Spanish very well, who cares? Bush is the President of the United States, not Mexico.
If President Fox, or any President of Mexico made real social and economic reforms in their country they wouldn't have to worry at all about our immigration policies. I blame the President of Mexico for the immigration problem more than I do the United States. It's easy for Fox to point at Bush and blame him for the immigration problem while he sat back and did nothing to solve his own country's economic failures. The man disgusts me.
And all you one notes that want to hang the entire Iraq war on Bush are forgetting all the failures of our Intellegence Department and Congress who didn't even read all the information available and voted to go to war. And don't forget that the voters elected Bush to office. If you want to impeach anyone it should be the voters.
Iraqis are killing innocent Iraqis infinitely more than our soldiers are.
Sorry naysayers of Jorge's language talents. His PR people used his so-called spanish capabilities as a selling point to Bush's leadership qualifications. It's just another stinking lie that America's goobers have come to accept.
Don't try to wiggle out of it and pass it off as unimportant. You'd be the same buttheads screaming impeachment for a little sexual indiscretion.
Vicente Fox could have added the following about Bush; Arrogant;conceited;congenital liar;can't address an audience unless he's reading from a script prepared by speech writers;a true draft dodger;a hypocrite;historians will write that Bush is the worst and most incompetent President to ever occupy the White House. Lame Duck is too kind a description for this bungler.
Mexico is in a huge economic slump right now due to Fox and his inability to lead a nation of corruption. He was even unable to fend off a presidential candidate from closing down the capitol city to support his tantrum. In fact, his wife was the leader of corruption and is a joke to all Mexican citizens. His memoir is considered garbage to his people as he and his wife retire and live off of money stolen while in power.
If that isn't the pot calling the kettle black!
We all know Bush is cocky – he's been doing his own thing since elected. However, neither Fox nor Calderon have any right to complain about the U.S – especially given both their lousy track records. If the Mexican Government was doing their job properly, there wouldn't be so many scrambling to get into our country.
Last I checked this is still the United States, and english is the official (not national) lanuage. At least President Bush makes an effort to speak spanish.
I wouldn't look to former president Fox as one to set the example. Wasn't he the one who said the laws of the U.S. don't apply to Mexico, Wasn't he the one who encouraged his citizens to invade the U.S., rather than enter LEGALY. Wasn't he the one to publish the "tourist guides" on how to enter the U.S. ILLEGALY and than wants us to put watering stations in the desert.
If you enter the U.S. ILLEGALY you're breaking our laws and are subject to our legal system.
After all if a group of Americans were to enter Mexico ILLEGALY, I'm sure they wouldn't be met with welcoming arms.
THANK-YOU,ex President Fox. I think there are many u.s. citizens who think the same way. Because of his cockieness and his sureness about the Iraq war we now have more enemies than ever. Marian Charlotte, NC
W is the laughing stock of the world. Way to go red state Amurkah. Love that NASCAR and your sub 100 IQ prez.
Bush is as cocky as it gets. He is also a war criminal and tyrant.
Well... Why do we care about the ex-president of mexico? I mean... the ex-president! No one even cares about the current president of Mexico! Lets get some real news CNN!
I can appreciate the assessment by Mr. Fox, but isn't that pretty much the pot calling the kettle......? Fox had rocky relations at best with several heads of state and his view on immigration was un-realistic. Better to assess his own actions while in office rather than those of others. More people died during his watch trying to cross the border than any other president in Mexicos history, yet, he did very little to keep people from leaving Mexico for the U.S.
Coming from this corrupt imbecile I would take this as a compliment.
Russian Presidnet Vladimir Putin
Mr. Mooney, perhaps you can tell me what a Presidnet is? Thank you.
Thanks Mr Fox for your opinion. Perhaps when your book sells – you'll use the proceeds to help the horrifically poor in your country that live literally in boxes and scour the garbage heaps hoping to find food or something of value to sell.
What will you do for them, Mr Fox?
I found it interesting that Robert Allyn a political consultant who advised both Fox and Bush helped to write the book. It would seem to be an indication that even those who worked closely with him have the same opinion as those who have very little to do with him. A pity that first impressions of our president are correct then.
The only problem with GW is he started a war to get even for his father, who didn't finish the job. All, not most but all of his decesions are based on feathering his own nest with big business when he gets out of office. If you believe otherwise you're head is still in the sand.. Like they say follow the money trail after he leaves office.
First off, I'm sure these two quotes were selected by the American media for their likelihood to best stir up "the readership"...but that aside, Mr. Fox should be the LAST one criticizing the U.S. given Mexico's deplorable government and social system. Besides, can you name ANYONE involved in politics who isn't "cocky"? I'm sure these were incidental observations within a larger context that were lifted from his bio.
To Thomas of St. Pete,
So the spin of the day is that the rationale for Bush's premptive war on Iraq was Sadam H's failure to abide by U. N. resolutions
That's nice, but how do you justify over 2 million homeless Iraquis, hundreds of thousands of dead Americans and Iraquis – oh, and don't forget the 8 dead soldiers from the "Coalition of the Willing". I guess the permanently maimed don't matter either.
Why don't we just blame the U.N.? . . . . hmmm. . can anybody say A.C.C.O.U.N.T.A.B.I.L.I.T.Y!
George Bush is the best thing that ever happened to Mexico. In fact he cares more about Mexicans than he does Americans. I hope when he leaves office he moves to Mexico and runs for President there.
Fox has a right to be surprised that Bush became President of the United States. We all should – since he was not really elected. He lost by over half a million votes to Al Gore. He also lost Florida, if the SCOTUS hadn't stopped the counting of ballots early. He is not, and never was, a legitimate president.
Former President Fox should be more concerned with solving the extensive problems in his country including but not limited to a solution to Mexico's illegal emigration!
Why would anyone sort through these comments? Is there something useful here? – No, Another great idea from CNN.
Many of you critiicize Mexico and it's obviously corrupt political system, yet fail to see just how corrupt our own is. We're just better at covering up our dirty laundery. In any case U.S. and Mexico's relationship is symbiotic, one can not survive without the other. Our economy is driven by the exploitation of the " economic immigrants". They work for chump change doing hard work that all of these "patriots" would scoff at. Remember this post when immigration laws do change and all you dumb posters who spew your garbage about Mexican workers have to pay more at grocery store, housing costs will rise, ( who do you all think builds these houses for cheap ). Our own economy is dependent on these workers. But it's easy to hide under the cover of the internet and give stupid opinions..
he IS the leader of the free world ... Mexico is like a large corrupt city
To President Fox:
The world is our mirror.